1. The four petitioners obtained rule of this Court on the basis of their application under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India. In the application, they have prayed for issuance of writ on respondents 1 to 4 to show cause why an appropriate writ, order or direction should not be issued directing the respondents to allow the petitioners with effect from 1st January, 1971, the scale of pay of Rs. 425 to Rs. 710.00 which was the sanctioned scale of the Bihar State Electricity Board, respondent No. 3.

2. In order to appreciate the points involved in this application, it would be necessary to state briefly the facts. All the four petitioners were overseers serving under respondent No. 3. At present, they are serving with respondent No. 1 as deputed by respondent No. 3. The scales of pay prescribed by respondents 1 and 3 were identical upto 31-12-1970. Respondent No. 3 revised the scale of the overseers among others by Notification dated 29th March, 1973, contained under Annexure 1 from Rs. 200 to Rs. 660/-. Further, enhancement of the scale was made by Notification dated 18th April, 1973 - Vide Annexure 2, according to which the scale of pay of the overseers was f